Kambula/Ntsevu Pride

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Mala Mala January 2024 Report:

THE KAMBULA PRIDE = 24
 2 ADULT FEMALES 10 YEARS 10 MONTHS 
 2 ADULT FEMALES ± 10 YEARS 7 MONTHS 
 4 ADULT FEMALES ± 5 YEARS 6 MONTHS 
 9 CUBS 1 YEAR 1 MONTH 
 1 CUB 0 YEARS 11 MONTHS 
 3 CUBS 0 YEARS 6 MONTHS 
3 CUBS 0 YEARS 2 MONTHS 
MALAMALA, FLOCKFIELD, NORTHERN CHARLESTON
 (48 sightings) 


Another month has passed, and there has been no observed interaction between three of the older
lionesses and the rest of the pride; it seems likely that this breakaway could become permanent. Due to this, we will be referring to the three older lionesses as the 'estranged lionesses’ and the five lionesses with the 13 cubs as the ‘bulk of the pride’. The three estranged lionesses of the Kambula pride started off the year by introducing us to their three newest cubs who were finally seen after being well hidden in their den on Campbell Koppies. The rest of the pride continues to thrive, spending most of the month on the Western bank. 

Noteworthy sightings: 

• On the 2nd, we were introduced to the three newest cubs from the estranged lionesses at Campbell Koppies. They were estimated to be around 6 weeks old. 

• On the 3rd, five lionesses and 13 cubs joined the Ndhzenga males at the Airstrip where they 
stayed until the next day. 

• On the 6th, three lionesses, and the two Ndhzenga males stole the remains of a buffalo kill 
from the members of the Nkuhuma pride at Buffalo Bush Dam, while at least one lioness and 
four cubs were left at the Airstrip. 

• Two of the estranged lionesses were joined by the Ndhzenga males at the Sausage Spot the 
next day. 

• One of these lionesses was mating with one of the Ndhzenga males at Piccadilly Triangle on 
the 8th and moved to the Mlowathi Spot on the 9th.


• The bulk of the pride was seen in the vicinity of Princess Alice Pans on the 8th and the 10th.


• The 12th and 13th were exceptionally rainy days, but the three estranged lionesses were seen between Plank’s Pan and Campbell Koppies, while the bulk of the pride was in a very muddy area with the Ndhzenga males, west of the Airstrip. 

• On the 14th, the three estranged lionesses were closer to the eastern koppie of Campbell 
Koppies when the newest mother walked to the Sausage Spot, leading us back to her new den 
site on the central rocky outcrop, where she met with her three young cubs. 

• The next day, she had moved them to the Mlowathi Spot, where the other two females and 
the Ndhzenga males joined them. 

• On the 19th, the largest of the estranged lionesses was mating with the larger Ndhzenga male at Lower Mlowathi Crossing while the new mother was with her three cubs at the Lookout Point on Campbell Koppies. They were joined by the mating pair the next day. 

• These two continued mating on the 21st in the northern parts of Piccadilly Triangle. The other 
Ndhzenga male joined the two remaining females and the young cubs at the Mlowathi Spot.

On the 23rd, the bulk of the pride was with the larger Ndhzenga male west of the Airstrip and 
the Smaller Ndhzenga male joined one of the estranged lionesses at Campbell Koppies where 
they fed on an impala kill. 

• On the 25th, the bulk of the pride were found in the Rock Drift Donga at the Charleston 
Flockfield Boundary with three cubs missing. These cubs were found further north, closer to Styx Rocks. It was a particularly dangerous time for the cubs to be left alone as a young male from the Styx Pride was also in that area. 

• The same day, the three estranged lionesses were with the smaller of the Ndhzenga males south of Campbell Koppies while the three youngest cubs played on the rocks around them. 

• The next day, two lionesses and one of the older cubs were found on West Street Bridge 
moving quickly north. Shortly afterwards, they met up with the rest of the pride who were feeding on the remains of a zebra kill. All 13 cubs were in this position, and it seems after making the kill, the two lionesses went looking for their lost cubs. 

• That afternoon, the larger Ndhzenga male attempted to mate with one of the estranged 
lionesses at the Mlowathi Spot and was met with quite an aggressive response while the other two lionesses and the three cubs were resting just to the north of them. 

• From the 28th to the 30th, the estranged lioness with the three youngest cubs were resting in 
the Mlowathi River to the south of Lower Mlowathi Crossing and were joined by two Ndhzenga males and the other two estranged lionesses on the 30th.

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